To the point
Here's our comparison of two very similar cards: the American Express Aeroplan Card and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card.
American Express Canada and TD offer two Aeroplan credit cards for travellers:
Both by their design, their black color and by their characteristics, they are very similar. Let’s analyze the small details to see the differences.
Welcome bonus
The welcome bonus offered by each of these cards varies according to the promotions.
Here is how the current offer is structured:
With this welcome offer for the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 35,000 Aeroplan points after $3,000 in Card purchases within the first 6 months
- 2,500 Aeroplan points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in purchases on your Card for the first 6 months of Cardmembership. That could add up to 15,000 Aeroplan points
With this welcome offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Card, you can earn up to 70,000 Aeroplan points.
Here’s how:
- 10,000 Aeroplan points after first purchase
- 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening
- An additional 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 12 months of Account opening†
Advantage: TD
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you could earn 50,000 points after six months by spending $5,000. However, if you spend an additional $2,500 in the first 12 months, you’ll earn an additional 20,000 Aeroplan Points.
While on the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card side, you could earn 50,000 points after six months by spending $3,000.
Both Aeroplan credit cards charge an annual fee from the first year.
Minimum income
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card requires no minimum income.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires an annual personal income of $60,000 or $100,000 in annual household income.
Advantage: American Express
Like the vast majority of American Express cards, this Aeroplan card requires no minimum income. If this is important to you, this card is much easier to get.
While the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card requires a higher income.
Annual fee
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card has an annual fee of $120.
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $139. However, with the current offer, you get an annual fee rebate for the first year†.
Advantage: American Express
Since both credit cards charge an annual fee from the first year, American Express wins the duel with a lower annual fee ($120 vs. $139 for TD).
Standard earning rate
The two cards offer different point earning rates.
Earning rates
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you earn:
- 2 points per dollar on eligible Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases
- 1.5 points per dollar on restaurant, bar and home delivery purchases
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you get different levels:
- 1.5 points per dollar on gas, groceries, Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations
- 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Advantage: TD
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card restricts its highest earning rate to Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. If you do a lot of spending with these companies, this will benefit you.
With restaurant expenses, you earn 1.5 points per dollar with the American Express Card. Thus, you will get more points with it than with the 1 point of the TD card.
But the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card wins the battle. Since the biggest budget items are groceries and gas, this card is more advantageous: 1.5 points per dollar. It’s better than American Express.
Finally, the game is tied for the other purchases: 1 point per dollar with both cards.
Redeeming points
Both cards are designed for travellers who earn Aeroplan points.
These points are used to book airline tickets with Air Canada, Star Alliance and partner airlines. Browse the Aeroplan flight rewards chart.
You can also use your Aeroplan points for hotel reservations, car rentals or vacation packages with Air Canada Vacations.
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you earn Aeroplan points only.
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn only Aeroplan points.
It's a tie !
Since both are used to earn Aeroplan points and both are co-branded Aeroplan cards, there is no one card that is better than the other.
Each month, both card transfer points to the cardholder’s Aeroplan account a few days after the statement is issued.
Once Aeroplan Points are in the Aeroplan account, there is no way out: you must use them only within the Aeroplan program. Then, as long as you hold either of these card , your Aeroplan points do not expire.
The Benefits
With the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card, you receive the following benefits:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
- Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in net purchases
- American Express Experiences allows you to purchase tickets to popular events (concerts, plays and special events) before anyone else
- Wide variety of American Express promotional offers (statement credits on a variety of purchases made at many retailers)
With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you will get:
- Free first checked bag for you and up to 8 people travelling on the same reservation
- Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 in net purchases
- $100 statement credit every 4 years for NEXUS enrollment or renewal fees
- Access to Visa Infinite Privilege (concierge, luxury hotel collection, vineyard tours, additional travel privileges)
- Optional TD Auto Club membership (roadside assistance)
- Many promotions with Aeroplan (Aeroplan points rebates, discounts on flights, credits or Aeroplan points to the account, link your account with Starbucks)
It's a tie !
Because the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has more benefits in terms of numbers, it would be a winner.
But it is interesting to analyze those of the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card. In fact, some of these offers are not limited to Air Canada or Aeroplan. They affect many different retailers (1Password, Marriott Bonvoy, Quickbooks, TurboTax, Columbia, Kinton Ramen, etc.).
The choice is yours on this point, as your lifestyle will determine this winner.
Insurance
| Insurance |  |
 |
| Trip Cancellation Insurance | None | Up to $1,500 |
| Trip Interruption Insurance | None | Up to $5,000 |
| Out of Province/Country Emergency Medical Insurance | None | Up to $1,000,000 21 days |
| Flight delay insurance | Up to $500 after 4 hours |
Up to $500 after 4 hours |
| Misdirected Baggage Insurance | Up to $500 after 4 hours |
Up to $1,000 after 4 hours |
| Lost or stolen luggage insurance | Up to $500 | Up to $1,000 |
| Hotel Burglary Insurance | Up to $500 | Up to $2,500 |
| Car Rental Theft and Damage Insurance | Up to $85,000 | Up to $65,000 |
| Travel accident insurance | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | 1 additional year | 1 additional year |
| Purchase Protection® Plan | Up to $1,000 90 days |
Up to $1,000 90 days |
Advantage: TD
The insurance offered by the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is superior. It offers cancellation, trip interruption and emergency medical expenses, which its counterpart does not have at all.
Bottom line
So? Who is the big winner?
For all of its benefits and with better insurance, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card wins the game!
However, if the $60,000 minimum income requirement is too much for you, the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is an excellent replacement.
The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card is distinguished by:
- No minimum income
- Promotional offers partly offsetting the cost of the annual fee
The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is distinguished by:
- its earning rate
- its superior travel insurance
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